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UNICEF Emergency Response Office in Slovakia
https://www.unicef.org/eca/unicef-emergency-response-office-slovakia
Context Although Slovakia grants "urgent and necessary health services" for Ukrainian citizens registered for Temporary Protection, many Ukrainians face challenges in accessing support. What is "urgent and necessary," however, is often left to the judgment of individual doctors, creating a situation in which quality of health care received by refugees can vary significantly. Ukrainian children tend to have significantly lower vaccination rates compared to Slovaks and front-line health workers are not trained to deal with vaccine hesitancy. The key challenge in the mid-long term is the management of chronic diseases, control and management of infectious and communicable disease, and provision of specialized mental health services and psychological support. In addition, there is a shortage of doctors, particularly pediatricians and nurses, with some regions being underserved even before the crisis. Under the existing legislation, Ukrainian health workers can provide services only under the direct supervision of a senior Slovak health worker, due to the shorter academic curriculum and mandated training required for doctors in Ukraine. UNI396419 UNI396419 UNI396419 UNI396419 UNICEF's Response Support to recognition of qualifications of Ukrainian health workers is one of four areas of cooperation between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, in addition to immunization and early childhood development, specialized mental health support, as well as health promotion and health education, including through parenting programmes. In collaboration with the Regional Health Authority in Bratislava, UNICEF supports the provision of primary healthcare services in the Bratislava region, hosting over 30,000 refugees, including more than 12,000 children. Services are provided by two general practitioners, two pediatricians, one gynecologist, and one psychiatrist under the supervision of a senior Slovak doctor. Pediatricians and breastfeeding counselors are integrated into the Blue Dots in Bratislava, Košice and Michalovce. UNI396390 UNI396390 UNI396390 UNI396390 Since 15 July 2022, primary healthcare services have been provided to over 43,000 children and women through UNICEF-supported mechanisms, including consultations for mental health, referrals to higher levels of care, and vaccination of children against measles, polio, and so on.
Vaccination campaign targeting Ukrainian refugees in Czech Republic launched today
https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/vaccination-campaign-targeting-ukrainian-refugees-czech-republic-launched-today
A campaign to drive uptake of routine and COVID-19 vaccination among Ukrainian refugees and the Ukrainian community was launched today in Brno, Czech Republic, by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF. "This campaign builds upon the success of the previous one, which reached half a milion people with COVID-19 vaccination, including 420,000 people with a second booster dose. This time, we are focusing on the Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic because of the low vaccination coverage against measles and polio among Ukrainian children. By joining hands with UNICEF, we wish to tackle the spread of misinformation with practical and reliable information on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines," said Czech Health Minister Vlastimil Válek. "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has faced widespread disruption to healthcare services, including childhood and COVID-19 immunization programmes. The Czech Republic welcomed 140,000 Ukrainian refugee children this year. We need to make sure they all have access to basic health services, including vaccination. UNICEF is pleased to play a key role, alongside the Ministry of Health, in improving vaccination coverage and build trust in vaccines through the provision of information in Ukrainian ," said Yulia Oleinik, Head of UNICEF Refugee Response Office in the Czech Republic. UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health with campaign content and microsite, and ensuring a wide reach of campaign messages. The microsite will provide useful and verfied information such as history of immunisation, data, practical tips and recommendations for preventing and treating diseases, as well as a map of vaccination sites across the country. The microsite will go live in December, while a Ukrainian language helpline is already accessible by dialling +420226201221. 1 UNICEF
UNICEF Emergency Response Office in Poland
https://www.unicef.org/eca/poland
The situation Of the 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees registered by the Polish government, around 90 per cent are women and children. This mother-and-child displacement crisis is exerting extraordinary pressure on Poland's public services, especially in healthcare given the specific needs of mothers, children and newborns. It's vital those who've fled this brutal war have access to health care, including immunizations, advice on feeding their babies and young children, and mental health and psychosocial support. Low immunization rates in Ukraine mean that refugees are at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. Before the war Ukraine was already at a high risk of a polio outbreak, with only 55 per cent of Ukrainian children vaccinated against the disease. Meanwhile, low coverage of the measles vaccination, currently at 78 per cent, led to Ukraine having 47,000 measles cases in 2018, the largest outbreak in Europe. Children should be protected from vaccine preventable diseases no matter where they live. UNICEF/UN0705564/Strek UN0705564 UNICEF/UN0705564/Strek UN0705564 In emergencies, supporting the survival and development of children, especially newborns, becomes more challenging. More than 2,500 Ukrainian newborns have been delivered in Polish hospitals since the beginning of the crisis and they are a particularly at-risk group. Exclusive breastfeeding can prevent nearly 20 per cent of under-five child deaths, however less than 20 per cent of Ukrainian infants aged 0 to 5 months are exclusively breastfed. Those exposed to conflict, especially children, can suffer severe psychological consequences. Not addressing mental health issues can stall a child's development and stop them participating meaningfully in society. Mental health and psychological support is therefore vital to help families heal from their invisible wounds of war. "Our husbands stayed behind. Our children are nervous; they shake and are scared because of what they have seen and heard. Children should never see such things. They should never be in a war." Alona from Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Mother now in Łodz, Poland with her children. The solution UNICEF's Emergency Response Office in Poland is focused on preventing disease outbreaks, helping refugees gain access to health care and promoting exclusive breastfeeding. Vaccinations are essential to protecting both Ukrainian and Polish children and families against preventable diseases. UNICEF is promoting the safety of immunization and its importance to children's health in Poland and ensuring there are sufficient supplies of critical vaccinations. So far, UNICEF has procured 50,000 polio and 5,000 Hepatitis A vaccines, as well as 50,000 syringes to support vaccination campaigns. We're currently sourcing extra doses of BCG, Hepatitis B and MMR vaccines. "I believe that vaccination is important for children, for the entire population of the country. I think even during the war, we shouldn't stop, because dangerous diseases are still nearby." Kateryna, mother of two from Kiyv region, now living in Poland. Safe water and sanitation is also crucial to preventing diseases like diarrhoea and cholera, which can be deadly. Since the early days of the crisis, UNICEF has been distributing WASH and dignity kits, which include basics like soap, and water containers. We're also partnering with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health on disease surveillance so we can respond immediately to prevent outbreaks. UNICEF/UN0647603/Korta UN0647603 UNICEF/UN0647603/Korta UN0647603 Linking refugees to health care is another priority and we're working hard to provide families with both the information they need as well as access to appropriate services. We're particularly focused on reaching children with disabilities and mothers and children in need of mental health support. We're also providing health kits with essential medicines and medical devices to Polish clinics, to help ensure they have enough supplies to treat the large numbers of new patients. Finally, we're encouraging mothers to exclusively breastfeed and sharing knowledge on how best to feed their babies and young children as they adapt to life in a new country. Trainings on exclusive breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding are being rolled out to 500 health workers in hospitals and 120 staff working in Blue Dot support hubs and we're establishing lactation groups in 10 maternity wards. UNICEF will also partner with the Ministry of Health to control the distribution of formula to make sure it is safe for babies.
Mainstreaming what works: EU and UNICEF strengthen health capacity for refugee and migrant children
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/mainstreaming-what-works-eu-and-unicef-strengthen-health-capacity-refugee-and-migrant
"Very often we have the feeling that this space functions as a container for the absorption of negative emotions of the people who visit us. People who come here often feel safe enough to share their fears, their frustrations and even their darker thoughts. We try to give them space to express their feelings and we always find ways to boost their morale." A Coordinator from METAdrasi on the importance of the Mother and Child Space for refugee and migrant At the ADRA community centre for migrant mothers and babies, Belgrade, Serbia At the ADRA community centre for migrant mothers and babies, Belgrade, Serbia The 'RM Child-Health' initiative has worked with UNICEF and its partners over the past year to strengthen national health systems in five European countries so they can meet the needs of refugee and migrant children. The initiative recognizes that a strong health system delivers for every vulnerable child. It is also a system that looks beyond physical health care to address mental and emotional wellbeing and wider issues, such as gender-based violence. Strong health systems are vital to ease the bottlenecks that confront refugee and migrant families when they try to access health care. All too often, their attempts to claim their right to health services are hampered by language barriers, bureaucracy and discrimination. In Bulgaria, for example, where national immunization rates are already below the European average, refugee and migrant children are three times less likely to be vaccinated than other children. The challenges Refugee and migrant children often have complex health needs, which may go far beyond poor physical health. Migration has a negative impact, for example, on their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. And that impact is intensified by poor living conditions, a lack of supportive social networks and social integration and, all too often, hostility from host communities. Many parents and caregivers, faced with barriers to health care and other basic services, as well as a lack of control over their own destiny, face real distress, and this can undermine their ability to meet the physical and emotional needs of their children at a critical point in their development. Gender-based violence (GBV) is another – and particularly harsh – challenge that affects many refugee and migrant children and young people. A chronic lack of child-friendly health information and durable solutions has heightened the risks of GBV, sexually transmitted diseases and early pregnancies, and the devastating consequences of all three for mental health. The response
Empowering refugee and migrant children to claim their right to health: Improving health literacy
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/empowering-refugee-and-migrant-children-claim-their-right-health-improving-health-literacy
"I have always had to behave 'like a girl' and I am not used to being asked for my opinion, but you ask me to say what I think during these workshops." A 13-year-old girl from Syria describes the impact of empowerment workshops in Serbia Boy is drawing a picture. UNICEF-supported activities for children on the island of Lesvos, Greece The 'RM Child-Health' initiative has supported work across five European countries to improve health literacy among refugee and migrant children over the past year. As a result, they and their families have learned about key health issues, about the health services available to them, and how to demand health services as their right. Through its support for health literacy – the ability to find, understand and use information to take care of your own health – the initiative has helped to dismantle some key barriers to health services for refugee and migrant children and their families in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia. This 27-month, €4.3 million co-funded initiative, which was launched in January 2020 by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, works alongside young refugees and migrants to ensure that they have accurate health information in their own languages – information that reaches them via the channels they use and the people they trust. Importantly, the initiative makes them more aware of their right to health care in these European countries – welcome news for those who have fled from countries where good quality health care is either unaffordable or unavailable. With support from the initiative, UNICEF and its partners first worked with young refugees and migrants to identify gaps in the information available to them and in their own knowledge. This informed the health literacy packages that have been rolled out in all five countries over the past year, spanning a wide range of topics from immunization and nutrition to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV). The packages themselves have been backed by detailed plans to ensure that their messages reach their audiences and gain real traction. Great care has been taken to ensure that information materials are culturally appropriate, gender sensitive and child-friendly, and that they are suitable for the ages and backgrounds of their audiences. Cultural mediators and interpreters have helped to overcome language and cultural barriers, while materials have been made available in, for example, Arabic, Farsi and Pashto. Activities have often been led by trusted professionals, such as nurses, physicians and psychologists who are already familiar with the needs of refugee and migrant children and their families. Materials have been shared through channels and locations that are well-used by refugees and migrants, including asylum offices, temporary reception centres, health centres, Mother and Baby Corners (MBCs), workshops and discussion sessions, during outreach activities and via social media. As a result, health literacy is now embedded into existing activities with refugee and migrant children and parents across all five countries, and is based firmly on their views and needs. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, information workshops have been tailored to the needs of different groups of children, including those who are unaccompanied and separated. Topics over the past year have included personal and oral hygiene, drug and alcohol use and its impact on health, the importance of immunization, early childhood development, medical referrals and the proper use of medicines and the risks of self-medication, as well as COVID-19 risks and prevention and services for those with symptoms. Health literacy on immunization, for example, has been strengthened through close cooperation with the Institutes for Public Health and local primary health centres, helping to ensure that refugees and migrants are aware of the national immunization calendar and protocols. In all, 1,428 refugee and migrant children and their parents have received vital information on immunization, 840 have received information on mental health and psycho-social services, and 580 (nearly double the target) have received information on maternal and child health care and nutrition. In Bulgaria, the initiative has supported group sessions that have exceeded their targets, with 99 sessions held for refugee children and mothers – more than three times the 28 sessions envisaged. There were more than twice as many information sessions on gender-based violence as originally planned: 107 rather than 48. In all, 600 refugee and migrant children and their parents have received information on immunization, 600 on mental health and psycho-social services, and 600 on maternal and child health, with every target for these areas met or surpassed in terms of the numbers of children reached. "Guiding people from refugee and migrant backgrounds on health-related procedures in their host country is a way to empower them to find solutions to health issues." Yura, a social worker with the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) In Greece, support from the initiative has enabled UNICEF and its partners to equip refugee and migrant children with information on health risks, entitlements and services through its non-formal education programme in urban areas and on the islands. In the first full year of the initiative, 1,796 children and 464 parents have received crucial information to help them safeguard their own health. In addition, information on mental health risks, entitlements and services has been shared with 587 refugee and migrant children on Lesvos through existing psychosocial support activities at the Child and Family Support Hub (CFSH), including counselling, information sessions, parent sessions and more. Refugee and migrant women and children using the UNICEF-supported Safe Space in Athens and the CFSH on Lesvos have had access to information on GBV, with 1,313 women and 687 children reached to date. Another 1,183 mothers and 596 children have received information on maternal and child health via the CFSH on Lesvos and at child-friendly spaces within the Asylum Service Offices in Athens and Thessaloniki. In Italy, there has been an emphasis on peer-to-peer health literacy over the past year. Young refugees and migrants have shared critical health messages through, for example, the U-Report on the Move platform – a user-friendly, cost-effective and anonymous digital platform with more than 6,000 subscribers, where they speak out on the issues that matter to them. Brochures on immunization, mental health and GBV have been translated into seven languages, and a live chat on reproductive health and the concept of 'consent' has been conducted in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 'Q&A' publications have provided clear answers to burning questions on immunization, mental health and GBV, with short videos explaining, for example, what to do if someone you know has been subjected to violence, and how to protect yourself from online abuse. In the first full year of the 'RM Child-Health' initiative, more than 10,887 refugees and migrants in Italy have benefited from critical information on health-related risks and services. The health literacy package supported by the initiative is being shared beyond refugee and migrant communities to reach local communities and key stakeholders, with human interest stories aiming to increase public awareness of the lives of refugees and migrants. The initiative's targets for health literacy in Serbia have also been exceeded, with 1,094 refugee and migrant children and parents receiving information on mental health (original target: 500) and 722 receiving information on GBV (original target: 600). Looking beyond the sheer numbers of beneficiaries, those taking part in health literacy workshops, in particular, have voiced their appreciation. One woman from Syria who took part in a GBV workshop commented: "I think that women, especially in our culture, do not recognize violence because they think it's normal for men to be louder, to yell, that they have the right to have all their whims fulfilled even if their wife wants or needs something different. It is a form of inequality we are used to. That is why it is important to talk about it, as you do, to have more workshops on these topics with women from our culture, so that we realize we should not put up with anything that is against our will or that harms us and our health." Another woman from Syria, who participated in a workshop on mental health and psychosocial support, said: "If it weren't for these workshops you're organizing, our stay in the camp would be so gloomy. I notice that women are in a much better mood and smiling during the workshops, more than in our spare time. You have a positive impact on us." Materials have been available in six languages and have covered access to health services, mental health issues, GBV, breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding, breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations for parents of children aged 1-6 months, recommendations for children aged 7-24 months, and substance abuse. To reach key stakeholders beyond refugee and migrant communities, a project information sheet and human-interest stories have been widely shared via social media and other well-used channels. Work is now underway in Serbia, with support from the 'RM Child-Health' initiative, to develop a new information package and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence against boys. This will be rolled out in 2021 in close partnership with key actors in child protection, including those who work directly with boys from refugee and migrant communities. The first full year of support from the 'RM Child-Health' initiative shows what can be achieved when refugee and migrant children, women and parents are all treated as champions for their own health, rather than the passive recipients of health care. Once equipped with the right information, including the knowledge of their fundamental right to health services, they are more likely to demand the health care to which they are entitled. Logo - Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe This story is part of the Project 'Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe', co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). It represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
A Mother and baby corner - a place of health and serenity
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/mother-and-baby-corner-place-health-and-serenity
Belgrade, Serbia, 18 December 2020 – Sharife Yusufi is a mother of four. Her oldest child is already a teenager. Her youngest son is eighteen months old and has two names – Shahir, a reminder of his native Afghanistan, and Milos, in gratitude to the doctor who, at the Centre for refugees and migrants near Bela Palanka in south-eastern Serbia, helped take care of Shahir Milos, who was born with congenital heart disease. "I raised my first three children in our house in Afghanistan, in a different setting," recalls 36-year-old Sharife. "Milos was born at a Reception centre, here in Serbia. We have been changing addresses ever since. We are currently staying at the Asylum centre in Belgrade. These are all difficult circumstances, where I, as a mother, don't set the rules. And I find it very difficult." Mother with a baby Sharife and her son Shahir Milos in the mother and baby corner in Belgrade, Serbia. That's why Sharife is happy every time she visits the Mother and baby corner. The nearby Community centre, run by the humanitarian organization ADRA, houses just such a mother and baby corner, whose work is supported by UNICEF through the project 'Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South-Eastern Europe', co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). Here, mothers can spend time in a safe space for women, change their babies' clothes and nappies, access hygiene items for their children, breastfeed in privacy and put their children down for naps, as well as participate in workshops. And most importantly, because they are living in challenging circumstances, they can talk to a doctor about the nutrition, hygiene and early childhood development and immunization of their small child, but also about their own health and the health of older children. This is particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Milos is learning through play in the Mother and baby corner. Milos is learning through play in the Mother and baby corner. The first piece of advice that mothers receive in the Mother and baby corner is always about breastfeeding – a source of food that is always available, hygienically safe and nutritious, and which boosts a child's immunity. "Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs, but it also stimulates development [and] develops immunity. It helps the child to calm down, sleep better and be settled. This also helps me be calm," explains Sharife with a smile on her face. Sharife is an experienced mother. Even so, she is very grateful for the advice she has received from the doctor at the Mother and baby corner. When Milos was six months old, she introduced solid food into his diet, while she continued to breastfeed. She recalls that Milos's first solid food was rice cereal, and then later on vegetables, fruits and meat. The Mother and baby corner is a safe space where Milos and his mother can spend quality time together. The Mother and baby corner is a safe space where Milos and his mother can spend quality time together. "Milos likes best the carrot and apple puree I make for his snack," explains Sharife. The needs of refugee and migrant women, according to social worker Andja Petrovic, have shaped the development of ADRA's Community centre, where they would, as a rule of thumb, almost always come with their children. In order for women to be able to attend creative, recreational and educational workshops at the Women's centre, they needed a Child-friendly space for older children and a Mother and baby corner for women with infants. These spaces make it possible for mothers to participate in language classes, sports activities, creative workshops and, most importantly, in workshops about women's health and rights, while their children are taken care of and safe. In these challenging times, mothers really appreciate the chance to talk to a doctor about the health status of their children. "The most important thing is that all the advice from our doctor is in line with their economic circumstances and current living situation [in Reception centres]," explains Andja. "The advice is tailored to their life and I think they particularly like that, because they can see that their situation is acknowledged. Because when they go to a doctor [in other facilities], they get advice that they can't follow because they don't have the [living] conditions for that." Dr Zivica Lukic explains that she talks to mothers mostly about nutrition, hygiene and how to respond to their babies' needs. "We support mothers to establish and maintain breastfeeding, as it has not only economic benefits, but for mothers it also has emotional and physical ones. We know how healthy breastfeeding is for the child, but it is equally healthy for the mother, because it soothes and creates a strong bond between mother and child. When the baby is six months old, it's necessary to introduce solid foods. I advise [the introduction of] vegetables that can be pureed well, such as potatoes and carrots, [as well as] rice." Social worker Andja describes Sharife as a dedicated mother, who gladly takes advice about her child's early development. From nutrition and hygiene to regular vaccination and learning through play which stimulates child development. "Milos is an irresistible child and Sharife is a dedicated mother. She has other children who are great students, who are willing to learn and develop despite the difficult situation they are in. Milos has someone to look up to. And we are doing what we can to help." The bright young boy with big black eyes with two names can now communicate in three languages. Mostly in his native Persian, but also a little in English and Serbian. He is also learning about colours and shapes and is growing up to be a very creative child. His mother is visibly proud and happy when she watches him cheerfully wave and send her kisses. For Sharife and Milos, the Mother and baby corner is a safe space: a place of serenity. This story is part of the Project 'Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe', Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). Logo The content of this article represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
HIV-positive… and fearless
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/hiv-positive%E2%80%A6-and-fearless
During the first TEDxYouth event organized on 17 November in Kazakhstan, Baurzhan, age 13, and his mother Aliya spoke about living openly with HIV. This is his story. Standing before more than 100 people, Aliya asks if anyone in the audience remembers the incident in 2006 when 149 children in southern Kazakhstan were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at a local hospital. A few hands go up. Hesitantly. "Not too many," sighs Aliya. "That's 149 families facing profound pain, shock, complete lack of support and understanding." Indeed, when the news first broke at the time, there was very little by way of public understanding and sympathy. On the contrary, the families affected have spoken about the pervasive rumors – including one suggesting that a special area would be built to quarantine the families – that they had to endure. Some families were even broken up. The sense of isolation still persists for many. "In our society," Aliya says, "HIV is still perceived to be a 'plague' of the 21 st century. These families and children are hiding. They do not open up about their HIV status. These children are still invisible to society." Then she adds, "They all live in great fear. All, but one." A voice chimes in. "I am one of those 149 children. I am HIV-positive and today, I am the only teenager in Kazakhstan with HIV who is living openly," says Baurzhan, age 13. Baurzhan and his mother at their home in Kazkhstan. Working towards acceptance Aliya's son Baurzhan was just nine months old when she learned that the blood transfusion he had received for treatment was infected with HIV. When he started going to school, Baurzhan understood that there were different kinds of viruses and one of them happened to be living in him. He did not feel different, until teachers asked him not to play during recess or physical education class. "We realized that for school to be an understanding environment, we needed to organize training, raise awareness among teachers on the importance of tolerance towards children with such illnesses," his mother says. The lanky teenager remembers crying in the school gym changing room after his classmate called him offensive names related to HIV. "I was not ready to hear it. It hurt a lot." The incident made Aliya realize that students needed awareness training, too. She helped the school organize lessons on child rights and responsibilities explaining the universality of rights. After the first session, the boy who had offended Baurzhan apologised for what he had said. "For 11 years, I have been taking medications every day to control the amount of virus in my blood. My immunity is 900 cells. Do you know that the immunity of a healthy person is 1200 cells? So, my immunity is that of a healthy teenager," he says. "My viral load is less than 50 copies. This means that I am just a carrier, but I cannot transmit the virus while I am taking medications." Together with friends, Baurzhan created a self-help group called "Asian teens" where they share their experiences of living with HIV. "I want to support other kids who are living in fear because of their HIV status. I want to be a role model of living openly and without any fear." As Baurzhan says these words, the audience erupts in standing ovation. After the TEDx talk, Baurzhan and his mother said that many people approached him and asked if they could give him a hug. "I really liked the feeling of speaking in that room – it was filled with warmth, the audience showed that they cared", he said. "My friends who are also living with HIV cannot wait to see my video, I think they will be surprised to see the positive reaction my story received." Baurzhan with his sibling at the family home. Baurzhan with his sibling at the family home. HIV today and steps for the future Since the outbreak in 2006, the HIV/AIDS situation has changed. By 2010, UNICEF helped decrease the rate of HIV transmission from mother to child in south Kazakhstan, which at the time had the highest number of deliveries by HIV-positive women. At country level, joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and UNICEF led to dropping the HIV transmission rate from 10.9 per cent in 2007 to 1.8 percent in 2014. Kazakhstan is now submitting a request to be certified as a country that virtually eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission. However, more work remains, says UNICEF Health and Nutrition Officer Kanat Sukhanberdiyev. "Globally, we still see that many children are dying from HIV/AIDS. We have a long way to go until children and adolescents with HIV receive the full package of healthcare and psychosocial support." On this World AIDS Day, UNICEF is calling on the world to increase investments in HIV prevention, testing and treatment programmes. Otherwise, by 2030, the lives of some 360,000 adolescents will be at risk of AIDS-related diseases. Find out more about UNICEF's work on HIV in Kazakhstan.
'RM Child-Health': safeguarding the health of refugee and migrant children in Europe
https://www.unicef.org/eca/rm-child-health-safeguarding-health-refugee-and-migrant-children-europe
More than 1.3 million children have made their way to Europe since 2014, fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty in their own countries. They include at least 225,000 children travelling alone – most of them teenage boys – as well as 500,000 children under the age of five. In 2019 alone, almost 32,000 children (8,000 of them unaccompanied or separated) reached Europe via the Mediterranean after perilous journeys from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and many parts of Africa – journeys that have threatened their lives and their health. Many have come from countries with broken health systems, travelling for months (even years) with no access to health care and facing the constant risks of violence and exploitation along the way. Many girls and boys arriving in Europe have missed out on life-saving immunization and have experienced serious distress or even mental health problems. They may be carrying the physical and emotional scars of violence, including sexual abuse. The health of infants and mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding has been put at risk by a lack of pre- and post-natal health services and of support for child nutrition. Two girls wash a pot in the common washing area of the Reception and Identification Centre in Moria, on the island of Lesvos, in Greece. Two girls wash a pot in the common washing area of the Reception and Identification Centre in Moria, on the island of Lesvos, in Greece. Child refugees and migrants also face an increased health risk as a result of crowded and unhygienic living conditions during their journeys and at their destinations. Even upon their arrival in Europe, refugee and migrant children and families often face continued barriers to their health care, such as cultural issues, bureaucracy, and a lack of information in their own language. Southern and South East European countries are at the heart of this challenge, struggling to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children. And now, an already serious problem is being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Refugee checks on his son
Precious support in the game of life
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/precious-support-game-life
Thanks to funding from the European Union 'RM Child-Health' initiative, UNICEF works to ensure that all refugee and migrant children in Bosnia and Herzegovina have access to primary health care, including paediatric services and, in the case of 10-year old Maisa, a vital pair of glasses. "I will wear these glasses all the time. I hope I won't lose them during the next 'game'", says 10-year-old Maisa.* In Maisa's world, the word "game" does not mean playing with her friends. It is the slang she uses to describe the attempts she and her family – originally from Iran – have made to cross the border from Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union in search of a more a promising future. To date, all of their attempts have failed. But they will keep trying. Maisa is at the opticians in Cazin, trying to decide which eyeglasses suit her best, having been brought here previously by a team from UNICEF and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), with funding from the EU's 'RM Child-Health' initiative, to have her eyes tested by an ophthalmologist. Trying on glasses while wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is an additional challenge, making it difficult for her to judge how the glasses look. Her dad, Zerin*, helps her choose and she is delighted with the purple-framed glasses that will come 'home' with her to the Sedra reception centre in Bihać. A pair of glass might seem like a small thing, but for Maisa, this is a joyous moment that will enhance her view of the world around her. Human lives are at stake in the game played by Maisa and her family. She has endured so many challenges since she left her native Tehran a year ago. At the time, she still had multifocal glasses that were suitable for treating her strabismus. However, the unpredictable life on the migrant route meant that Maisa lost her glasses long before the family arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her new glasses will allow her to continue her treatment for strabismus and help repair her damaged vision. Maisa at the pediatric clinic Maisa at the pediatric clinic of the Sedra Reception Center, her medical examination before heading off to the optical shop to get new eyeglasses. Back at the Sedra reception centre, Maisa talks about her hopes. She can't explain exactly why she wants her wanderings on the European continent to end happily in England, but maybe the staff of the reception centre are partly responsible for that: "They teach me English and thanks to them, I speak better because I want to be able to express myself clearly" she says to her Farsi translator, who helps to enhance communication between children like Maisa and local health services. The family's attempts to cross the border to find a better life somewhere in the north of Europe have taken their toll on Maisa's education. Nevertheless, her English flows with such ease and eloquence that one almost forgets she is sitting in the reception centre's modest and crumbling paediatric clinic. She could be doing her medical examination before enrolling in a prestigious international school. The healthcare professionals at the Sedra clinic cannot estimate exactly how many children it is serving at the moment, as children so often go to 'games' with their families. Some return, some don't, and new children arrive, with different health issues, of different ages and from different backgrounds. The reception centre is occupied mostly by families with children, so there has been a clear need for paediatric services for a long time. Maisa entering the pediatric clinic Maisa entering the pediatric clinic of the Sedra Reception center, where along with her medical check-ups she is practicing her English skills and conversing with the medical workers. According to its team of paediatricians, children most often come to the clinic for general health examinations, or because of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Babies are also taken care of, in addition to examinations, therapies and dressing services. If the outpatient clinic can't provide the care that is needed, children are referred to the Bihać Cantonal Hospital or the Cazin Health Center. And it is thanks to this referral system, supported by the 'RM Child-Health' initiative, that Maisa was referred to the ophthalmologist. In total, more than 750 children were helped by the paediatric clinic between January and September 2020. "Thanks to the support of the EU 'RM Child-Health' initiative, and the work of the DRC and our partners working within reception centres, the quality and number of services provided to children in need of health care have increased significantly since we founded the pediatric units in Sedra and Borići", says Amila Madžak, Education officer at the UNICEF office in Bihać. "This has had a positive impact on individuals and families, and on migrant communities, as well as on wider public health. Help is also provided for unaccompanied children living in the reception centres in Bira and Miral. In addition to basic services, the paediatric care on offer also includes immunization services, systematic examinations, ophthalmological and dental services, consultations, training and coaching for children and adults. We also went through the first cycle of immunization with 500 children in the USC, and we are continuing with the next cycle in the Una Sana Canton, as well as in Sarajevo Canton." Fortunately, Maisa's problem was much easier to solve than many other health problems faced by the children of migrants, refugees and by unaccompanied minors. For many of them, this is the end of the road, with no prospect of going any further. And going further is what Maisa has been dreaming of since embarking on this unpredictable journey: the London rain, the British accent and the ability to use her eyes to their full potential. *Names changed to protect identities. This story is part of the Project Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe, Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). Logo The content of this article represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
Safeguarding the health of refugee and migrant children during COVID-19
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/safeguarding-health-refugee-and-migrant-children-during-covid-19
"When COVID arrived here, I thought: 'It's over, it will spread throughout the building'. I didn't think it was possible to avoid the spread of the outbreak. Instead, we have had very few cases and we owe this, above all, to the support we received from INTERSOS and UNICEF." Josehaly (Josy), a refugee living in Rome A field worker from Intersos fastens a mask for a young refugee girl in Rome. A field worker from Intersos fastens a mask for a young refugee girl in Rome. The 'RM Child-Health' initiative is funding work across five European countries to keep refugee and migrant children connected to health services. While the COVID-19 pandemic was not foreseen when the initiative was first launched, the strategic principles underpinning the 'RM Child-Health' initiative – flexibility, responsiveness to real needs, and building on what works – meant that UNICEF and partners could swing into action to safeguard the health and wellbeing of refugee and migrant children and overcome intensified and unprecedented challenges. Since the launch of the 27-month 'RM Child-Health' initiative in January 2020, activities were adapted quickly to address access to health services during the COVID-19 crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia. This €4.3 million initiative, co-funded by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, has shown refugee and migrant children and families how to protect themselves and others, and that they have every right to health care – even in a pandemic. The rapid escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in 2020 exacerbated the already worrying state of health and wellbeing of the region's most vulnerable people, including refugee and migrant children, and has had a protracted impact on their access to health and other vital services. The situation has been particularly dire for refugees and migrants who are not in formal reception sites, and who are, therefore, harder to reach and monitor. Refugee and migrant families living in over-crowded conditions with limited access to sanitation are at high risk of infection. These communities have often had to face a 'double lockdown', confined to their settlements and camps and having little or no access to accurate information on protecting themselves and others. The additional pressures have been severe. UNICEF and its partners in Bulgaria have seen appeals for support double from 30 to 60 cases per day. Far more refugees and asylum-seekers have been in urgent need of financial and material support, having lost their incomes because of the pandemic. There have been increased requests for support to meet the cost of medical care for children, which is not covered by the state budget, and more requests for psychosocial support. This increase in demand has, of course, coincided with serious challenges for service delivery. Restrictions on movement have curtailed in-person services, and partners have had to adapt the way in which they connect with refugees and migrants. The pandemic has had a direct impact on the provision of group sessions to share health-related information, as well as on the timely identification of children and women suffering from or at risk of health-related issues. The impact on vital services for timely and quality maternal and child health care, psychosocial support, recreational and non-formal services, and on services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) has been profound. In Bulgaria, UNICEF and its partners were able to take immediate measures with support from the 'RM Child-Health' initiative to alleviate the impact, including online awareness raising and information sessions and the use of different channels for communication, including social media. UNICEF's partners, the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) and the Mission Wings Foundation (MWF) adapted service delivery to allow both face-to-face interaction (while maintaining social distancing for safety) as well as assistance online and by telephone. Partners were able to continue to provide direct social services support while also delivering online consultations to refugees and migrants on cases of violence, as well as referral to specialized services. In Greece, the initiative supported the development of child-friendly information posters and stickers for refugee and migrant children and their families on critical preventive measures and on what to do and where to go if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms. In Italy, the initiative has supported outreach teams and community mobilization, providing refugee and migrant families with the information and resources they need to keep the pandemic at bay. In Rome, for example, health promoters from Intersos continued to work directly with refugee and migrant communities in informal settlements, not only to prevent infection but also to keep their spirits high, as one health promoter explained: "We have organized housing modules that are not only designed to keep the community safe, but also to stop loneliness overwhelming the people forced into isolation. The entire community has assisted people affected by the virus by cooking, washing clothes and offering all possible support, particularly to the children." UNICEF and its partners in Italy, as in other countries, have aimed to maintain continuity and unimpeded access to key services. Child protection, for example, has been mainstreamed into all project activities, and additional measures have been introduced, with a ramping up of activities to raise awareness and share information. UNICEF partners adapted quickly to the pandemic, with Médecins du Monde (MdM) activating a hotline number to provide remote counselling and psychological first aid (PFA). Centro Penc shifted to remote case management and individual psychological support, strengthening the capacity of cultural mediators to support GBV survivors, with UNICEF's support. Young people were consulted and engaged through UNICEF's online platform U-Report on the Move, with young U-reporters sharing information on the increased risks of GBV, as well as on available services. In Serbia, the initiative has supported UNICEF's efforts to improve the immunization process for refugee children and migrants by strengthening the assessment and monitoring process. As a result of such efforts, refugees and migrants have been included in the national COVID-19 Immunization Plan.


text:
'use strict';

import { DefaultConfig, GOLDEN_LINE_HEIGHT_RATIO } from 'vs/editor/common/config/defaultConfig';
import { EditorZoom } from 'vs/editor/common/config/editorZoom';

function safeParseFloat(n: number | string, defaultValue: number): number {
	if (typeof n === 'number') {
		return n;
	}
	let r = parseFloat(n);
	if (isNaN(r)) {
		return defaultValue;
	}
	return r;
}

function safeParseInt(n: number | string, defaultValue: number): number {
	if (typeof n === 'number') {
		return Math.round(n);
	}
	let r = parseInt(n);
	if (isNaN(r)) {
		return defaultValue;
	}
	return r;
}

function clamp(n: number, min: number, max: number): number {
	if (n < min) {
		return min;
	}
	if (n > max) {
		return max;
	}
	return n;
}

export class BareFontInfo {
	readonly _bareFontInfoBrand: void;

	/**
	 * @internal
	 */
	public static createFromRawSettings(opts: {
		fontFamily?: string;
		fontWeight?: string;
		fontSize?: number | string;
		lineHeight?: number | string;
	}): BareFontInfo {

		let fontFamily = String(opts.fontFamily) || DefaultConfig.editor.fontFamily;
		let fontWeight = String(opts.fontWeight) || DefaultConfig.editor.fontWeight;

		let fontSize = safeParseFloat(opts.fontSize, DefaultConfig.editor.fontSize);
		fontSize = clamp(fontSize, 0, 100);
		if (fontSize === 0) {
			fontSize = DefaultConfig.editor.fontSize;
		}

		let lineHeight = safeParseInt(opts.lineHeight, 0);
		lineHeight = clamp(lineHeight, 0, 150);
		if (lineHeight === 0) {
			lineHeight = Math.round(GOLDEN_LINE_HEIGHT_RATIO * fontSize);
		}

		let editorZoomLevelMultiplier = 1 + (EditorZoom.getZoomLevel() * 0.1);
		fontSize *= editorZoomLevelMultiplier;
		lineHeight *= editorZoomLevelMultiplier;

		return new BareFontInfo({
			fontFamily: fontFamily,
			fontWeight: fontWeight,
			fontSize: fontSize,
			lineHeight: lineHeight
		});
	}

	readonly fontFamily: string;
	readonly fontWeight: string;
	readonly fontSize: number;
	readonly lineHeight: number;

	/**
	 * @internal
	 */
	protected constructor(opts: {
		fontFamily: string;
		fontWeight: string;
		fontSize: number;
		lineHeight: number;
	}) {
		this.fontFamily = String(opts.fontFamily);
		this.fontWeight = String(opts.fontWeight);
		this.fontSize = opts.fontSize;
		this.lineHeight = opts.lineHeight | 0;
	}

	/**
	 * @internal
	 */
	public getId(): string {
		return this.fontFamily + '-' + this.fontWeight + '-' + this.fontSize + '-' + this.lineHeight + '-';
	}
}

export class FontInfo extends BareFontInfo {
	readonly _editorStylingBrand: void;

	readonly typicalHalfwidthCharacterWidth: number;
	readonly typicalFullwidthCharacterWidth: number;
	readonly spaceWidth: number;
	readonly maxDigitWidth: number;

	/**
	 * @internal
	 */
	constructor(opts: {
		fontFamily: string;
		fontWeight: string;
		fontSize: number;
		lineHeight: number;
		typicalHalfwidthCharacterWidth: number;
		typicalFullwidthCharacterWidth: number;
		spaceWidth: number;
		maxDigitWidth: number;
	}) {
		super(opts);
		this.typicalHalfwidthCharacterWidth = opts.typicalHalfwidthCharacterWidth;
		this.typicalFullwidthCharacterWidth = opts.typicalFullwidthCharacterWidth;
		this.spaceWidth = opts.spaceWidth;
		this.maxDigitWidth = opts.maxDigitWidth;
	}

	/**
	 * @internal
	 */
	public equals(other: FontInfo): boolean {
		return (
			this.fontFamily === other.fontFamily
			&& this.fontWeight === other.fontWeight
			&& this.fontSize === other.fontSize
			&& this.lineHeight === other.lineHeight
			&& this.typicalHalfwidthCharacterWidth === other.typicalHalfwidthCharacterWidth
			&& this.typicalFullwidthCharacterWidth === other.typicalFullwidthCharacterWidth
			&& this.spaceWidth === other.spaceWidth
			&& this.maxDigitWidth === other.maxDigitWidth
		);
	}

	/**
	 * @internal
	 */
	public clone(): FontInfo {
		return new FontInfo(this);
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


BRASS NICKEL BRONZE EASEL 30cm PLATE DISPLAY PICTURE STAND PHOTO WEDDING B04-12"
BRASS NICKEL BRONZE EASEL 25cm PLATE DISPLAY PICTURE PHOTO STAND WEDDING B04-10"
Solid Brass Decorative Brass Easel.
BEAUTIFUL ORNATE BRASS DISPLAY / EASEL STAND, THIS FANTASTIC ORNATE BRASS DISPLAY STAND IS IN SUPER CONDITION, BEAUTIFUL DESIGN IT STANDS 25.5 CM TALL AND IS 11 CM WIDE AT THE BASE, FANTASTIC ORNATE ITEM.
ITEM = "baroque" Italian Decorative Brass Picture Easel - 15cm X 33 Cm // £9.99. will try my best to help. CONDITION = very good condition, no box / loose ( as pictured ).
Small decorative brass picture easel.
BRASS NICKEL BRONZE EASEL 16cm PLATE DISPLAY PICTURE STAND ARTIST WEDDING B04-6"
A very useful and attractive sturdy small brass easel stand. It can be used for small pictures or ceramics. The two arms at the base are articulated and can be moved to accommodate the item. The portrait miniature is not included in sale but shown for demonstration.
7ins/18cm high (irrespective of width) would leave the ornate top part of the easel visible. would obscure the ornate top part of the easel. 1in/2.5cm thick.
Ornate Decorative Brass Easel. Condition is Used. Dispatched with Royal Mail Signed For® 2nd Class.
BRASS NICKEL BRONZE EASEL 22CM PLATE DISPLAY PICTURE STAND ARTIST WEDDING BO4-8"
Large decorative brass picture easel.
Holders, each holder is 14.5cm tall 12cm wide.
The easels have been used at a wedding and are in VGC. These have been chalk sprayed, giving a shabby chic 'Antique white' style.
This will take a picture of 89mm x 51mm - there are only 2 of the picture back plate holders left with 3 missing but the thin plate is a tight fit so is not a problem.


The Little Lehle II - the universal Lehle switching and looping tool.
The Little Lehle II can also be used to switch between two instruments on one amp or, vice versa, between two amps with one instrument. Extremely diverse sound sources are possible - signals from pick-ups, microphones and keyboard line-out sockets are routed loss-free to the target amplifier or recorders, and all jack sockets are stereo. Switches with gold-plated contacts assure True Bypass. As on this unit's "big brother", the Lehle D.Loop SGoS, not only the stereo signal, but also the signal ground, is switched - so it's goodbye to hum when switching between two amps, and selecting effect loops - it just can't happen any more!
The easy-action mushroom-shaped button characteristic of Lehle products is mounted in the cover, so that your foot pressure is transmitted indirectly, via only a spring, to the slide switch with its gold-plated contacts. The electronics board is thus not exposed to mechanical loads, making the Little Lehle II virtually indestructible and guaranteeing years of trouble-free switching.


text:
Q: Why does 'fill' before 'color' in TikZ node options make the whole node filled with the color set in 'color'? Here is my LaTeX code:
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}

\node[circle,color=yellow,fill=red,font=\Huge] at (0, 0) {foo};
\node[circle,fill=red,color=yellow,font=\Huge] at (3, 0) {foo};

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Here is the output:

The second circle was supposed to show yellow text on red background. Why is completely yellow?

A: Your code uses the color key. This is a shorthand (meta key) for most colors you could change, most notably text, draw and fill. You could even omit the color= part as it will be used by default.
Apart from the meaning of the key the order is very important as pgfkeys (which is used by TikZ) processes the keys in order and does not preserve values meaning that once you specify the key again (or in a meta key like color) it will be overwritten.
Hence the answer to your question: It is completely yellow, because you set text and fill color to yellow after you specified another color.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
"The Challenge of Sequencing SMN1/2 Genes for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research"
Free On-Demand Webinar: "The Challenge of Sequencing SMN1/2 Genes for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research"
The most severe forms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are considered to be a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. As a result, SMA is a very important disorder for carrier screening research studies.
By submitting this content request, I have legitimate interest in the content and agree that Thermo Fisher Scientific, their partners, and the creators of any other content I have selected may contact me regarding news, products, and services that may be of interest to me.
I would like Thermo Fisher Scientific (including its affiliates) to add me to a list to receive information about events, products, services and promotions which Thermo Fisher believes may be of interest to me via the following channels: email and phone. By submitting my data, I give consent to the collection, processing and use of my personal data in accordance with the Thermo Fisher Scientific Privacy Policy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I get distracted easily. I don't know why, but for the past couple of years my attention span has seemed nearly nonexistent. I often attribute this to the fact that I constantly have 5,000 things going through my head.
As the World's Biggest Introvert, those 5,000 things include scripts for conversations and scenarios that may or may not ever actually happen. I definitely like to think before I act. Because of this, I have plenty of practice visualizing things and making up dialogue, so I often have book scenes planned to a T before I ever even write them.
I'm an expert procrastinator, and I often procrastinate on stuff I actually enjoy doing. I blame this partly on my lack of attention span, but I think it's also because many of my hobbies don't technically have to get done. That's the whole point of hobbies, after all.
But now that writing has become a little more than just a plain old hobby, I've found that I need to kick the self-motivation up a notch. Being a full-time student on top of being an author makes things a little tricky, because I don't have as much free time. Then I have multiple hobbies and obligations all vying for the free time I do have. This is where Just Do It comes into play.
You've already got 10 different scenes planned in your head and they can be written at any time.
Oh, you're distracted by cat videos and piano covers of your favorite video game music.
You love writing and already have extensive outlines for these chapters, so why are you procrastinating?
Don't sit there and think about doing it, don't complain about doing it. JUST DO IT.
One of the other issues is that I can be a bit of a perfectionist, which may also explain the procrastination. I tend to think "If I can't make it perfect the first time, I won't even try right now." But that's what editing is for, and I need to keep reminding myself that. For now, Just Do It. Worry about fixing it later. One particular thing that often trips me up is if I juuuuust can't quite think of That One Word/Phrase that perfectly conveys whatever idea I'm trying to get across, and I spend a lot of time just sitting there staring at the screen, accomplishing nothing (and eventually getting distracted). If I can't think of a certain word or get stuck trying to describe a certain idea, I've found that it helps to just write whatever comes to me, even if it's "that-one-thing-that–" or something. Describing the concept as thoroughly as possible – regardless of how pretty it sounds – allows me to come back later with a fresh set of eyes and remember exactly what I was trying to say. Perfection isn't necessary on the first try. Just Do It.
Another thing I have issues with is planning and outlining. As of late, I've been terrified of moving forward with a story without having a definite plan. In a way, I think it's reasonable to be a little nervous about planning, just because I'm dealing with a trilogy of books and I have to pay attention to continuity and character development and whatnot. If I just wing it, I may forget to include a crucial detail. But being stuck on a scene is no reason to just drop everything. One way I've learned to deal with this is to move on to something else, maybe one of those other scenes I've spent so much time planning in my head. Nobody ever said a book had to be written in order. I pre-wrote several different major scenes in Nexus: Ziva Payvan Book 2; not only did it give me something to do when I was stuck on something else, but it also helped provide some structure for the story. It almost became like connecting the dots – in order to get from Scene A to Scene B, x and y needed to happen. I've been doing the same thing while working on Ronan, working on scenes that don't happen until probably 2/3 of the way through the book.
But while writing future scenes is helpful, eventually you'll have to go back and Just Do It. Just write that part you were stuck on. Just write what comes to you, and worry about editing it later. I've also done that with Ronan – I was a little panicked because I had gotten to a scene that I really hadn't done any planning for, and I ended up putting off working on it for a long time. But I picked it up again a few days ago and just started writing whatever seemed natural. I ended up with kind of a long exposition and a little bit of cheesy dialogue, but it got me through the part I'd been stuck on and, as we've established, it can be edited later. It was only a matter of Just Doing It.
I didn't make any New Years' Resolutions this year because I've always thought the idea was kind of lame, but I think I've decided that my official resolution will be to Just Do It at least once a day. If I up my wordcount by 2,000, awesome. If I up it by 200, that's great. I've started jotting down dates with my current wordcount next to them, and it helps to see a change in that number on a daily basis. Even if all I've done is edit something, I want Word to ask me if I want to save changes when I close it. If I can do that at least once a day, I'll be making progress.
Ronan is currently sitting at a wordcount of 26,137 and is 88 pages, 58 of which make up the main body of the story. The other 30 pages are all bits and pieces of Those Other Scenes that will serve as checkpoints as I write.
In other news, I discovered today that the paperbacks of both Dakiti and Nexus are available through Barnes & Noble. I'm wondering if those of you who have reviewed one or both books on Amazon or Goodreads would be willing to post your reviews on the respective B&N pages. Just a simple copy-paste job is fine. I'm not entirely sure how long they've been available on the site (I certainly never got any sort of memo!) but without reviews, people don't know much about them. Reviews are what fuel us indie authors in the big crazy world of publishing. When you're trying to decide whether or not to buy a book, you read the reviews first, don't you?
And now I'd like to treat you all to an excerpt from Ronan. It took me awhile to decide whether or not to post this particular segment in terms of it being spoiler-y, but I've decided that it doesn't really include anything that won't be mentioned on the back blurb whenever the cover gets finished, so I think we're good. Enjoy.
She was reasonably sure her eyes were open, and yet she could not see anything. She blinked several times just to be sure — still nothing. From what she could tell, she was slumped against a wall, her neck and shoulders bent at an awkward angle. There was a certain closeness in the air that told her she was in a small room, though there was no way of telling how small. The room didn't have a noticeable scent; she guessed she had been there awhile and had simply grown accustomed to it. The darkness seemed familiar, though whether she knew it from sleep or consciousness, she had no idea.
It was a question she vaguely remembered asking herself at some prior time, so maybe she had been awake at some point after all.
My name is Zinnarana Vax, she told herself as she pressed her palms to the floor and tried to heave herself into a more upright position. I am an intelligence officer in the special operations division of the Haphezian Special Police. Her arms felt like lead and it took what seemed like all of her strength to move her body. Fire pulsed through her neck and back as she was finally able to straighten. I can feel pain. That's a start.
Zinni fidgeted a bit as she settled into the new position. She lifted a shaky hand, almost startled when she felt her own fingers brush against her face. She slowly began a systematic exploration of her head, finding her eyes, nose, lips, ears, and even taking the time to run her fingers through her hair. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary; she found no blood or fluids, and she felt no pain other than a dull pounding in her skull.
It felt like she was moving in slow motion as she lowered her hands and repeated the examination process on her neck, chest, arms, and abdomen. I have some bruising on my left side, she thought, pressing down on a sore spot below her rib cage. Feels like blunt force trauma. She couldn't imagine that she could have inflicted such an injury on herself. Either she had left his room at some point, or someone else had come in.
For the first time, she noticed the subtle changes in the tilt of the floor she sat on. She wasn't sure if the space she was in was actually moving or if it was just her mind playing tricks on her, but she added the sensation to the ever-growing list of things she was aware of.
Zinni sat still for awhile, focusing on the darkness once more. For a moment it seemed heavier than normal, almost as if she had passed out again, but everything looked exactly the same. Other than a low vibration that seemed to be coming from within the walls around her, her ears weren't registering any sounds. The silence plus the blackness left her with no concept of time; she had no idea how long she sat there staring before beginning the self exam again.
She heard the low metallic groan just before the sliver of red light pierced the darkness. Red hues are less intense, she told herself. Nonetheless, the light seemed blinding in comparison to the void around her and she squeezed her eyes shut, overcome with a sudden bout of nausea. The groaning continued and the light became brighter, even through her closed eyelids. A door is opening. She commanded herself to open her eyes, to determine the location of the door, to see who or what might be approaching, but the light burned and intensified her headache. She settled with listening, smelling, feeling. A hand took hold of her arm, a device beeped somewhere near her head, and she heard muffled voices that echoed as if they were far away.
My name is Zinnarana Vax. I'm still alive.
Okay, first things first – love the excerpt! Very dramatic and very compelling :).
I was TERRIBLE about this when writing Starshine. I'd stop writing mid-sentence and spend an hour on Wikipedia researching metals or timber or rocket fuel or whatever the pertinent topic was, just so I could finish the sentence accurately. I'd spend 15 minutes on thesaurus.com searching for the right word for the emotion I wanted to convey. While writing Vertigo I identified this as a "problem." I addressed it by adopting the [bracketed word/phrase/thoughts/notes to self] with zealous enthusiasm.
A few weeks ago I compiled (from Scrivener) what I considered the semi-official full 1st draft of Transcendence. It contained 1,077 bracketed phrases! But I was proud of that…and then spent 4 10-hour days mercilessly slaying them. It turned out, tackling them all at once was crazy efficient, because the mindset involved is completely different than the mindset of "writing," and once I got in that groove I churned through them. So, yeah – when you're writing the "story," bracket and just keep right on going.
I'll see if B&N will cooperate with me posting reviews over there. Never occurred to me to ask people to do that, lol ;).
I really should start trying to use brackets for editing, because I dont always remember exactly which parts I wanted to come back to and fix so I see them and think "What is this crappy writing??" They get edited anyway of course, but using brackets might spare me some of the self-hatred ha! And "mercilessly slaying" has got to be the best editing-related phrase I've ever heard. Totally stealing it.
Absolutely, steal away! I'm a HUGE fan of brackets; they leap out at you on the page, but more importantly you can search for them then just go from one to the next. Just remember to do a final search for them when you're formatting for publication, cause it's easy for one or two to accidentally stick around….


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This KAS Bliss shag area rug features an extremely soft and luxurious densely woven rug. Spot clean stains. Professionally clean periodically. 100% Polyester. Made in China. Size: 23 x 39.
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This KAS Bliss rectangular shag area rug features an extremely soft and luxurious densely woven rug. Spot clean stains. Professionally clean periodically. 100% Polyester. Made in China. Size: 33 x 53. Limited Manufacturer's Warranty.


text:
Q: Using global variable iteration with ruby -pe command line I am trying to use ruby to generate an iterated value in gsub(). The line I wrote is:
ruby -pe '$i=0; gsub(/⎦\d+?⎡/, "⎦#{$i+=1}⎡")' < test.txt

But that doesn't actually do the iteration; instead, it sets the value of $i to zero and adds 1 to it each time the substitution takes place.
I have also used:
ruby -pe 'BEGIN{$i=0}; gsub(/\d+?/, "#{$i+=1}")' < test.txt

That one outputs the line number instead of the variable iteration value. Shouldn't the gsub() get called ONLY when the REGEX has a match?
The purpose of the command is to substitute the iterated value + 1 for the next number found in the file. e.g. :

Lorem ipsum dolor 2 sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed 7 diam nonummy nibh euismod 1 tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna 10 aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci  15 tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Output:

Lorem ipsum dolor 1 sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed 2 diam nonummy nibh euismod 3 tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna 4 aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci  5 tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Update1:
I have tried this line after further reading:
ruby -pe 'BEGIN{$i=0}; gsub /\d+?/, "#{$i+=1}" if ~/\d+?/' < aa01.xhtml

However, it seems that the process in the command lines I used is not correct to start with. It should first find the line which has numbers. Then increment the variable and substitute it in the place of the number found and move to the next number if any are present in the same line.

A: I think that the expression "⎦#{$i+=1}⎡" is computed only once. A block is computed at each replacement.
$i=0
File.open('test.txt') do |f|
    f.each_line do |line|
        modif = line.gsub(/\d+/) {|num| "#{$i+=1}"}
        puts modif
    end
end

outputs :
Lorem ipsum dolor 1 sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed 2 diam nonummy nibh euismod 3 tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna 4 aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci 5 tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

New input :
Lorem ipsum dolor 2 sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit,
sed 7 diam nonummy nibh
euismod 1 tincidunt ut 44

laoreet dolore magna 10 aliquam erat volutpat.
Ut wisi enim 0 ad minim veniam, 4 quis nostrud
exerci 15 tation ullamcorper 66 suscipit 88
lobortis 6 nisl ut aliquip ex 1 ea1 co1mmodo consequat.

output :
Lorem ipsum dolor 1 sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit,
sed 2 diam nonummy nibh
euismod 3 tincidunt ut 4

laoreet dolore magna 5 aliquam erat volutpat.
Ut wisi enim 6 ad minim veniam, 7 quis nostrud
exerci 8 tation ullamcorper 9 suscipit 10
lobortis 11 nisl ut aliquip ex 12 ea13 co14mmodo consequat.


text:
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Back in 2006, controversial WSOP winner Jamie Gold became the 'Marmite Man' of poker. But did people get him all wrong? We chat to the man himself, almost eight years after that $12 million win.
Hi Jamie. It's been almost eight years since you won the biggest ever WSOP, and you've been up to a lot since. Talk us through a normal day in your life.
Sure. Now that I am not just working for philanthropic causes alone, and am part of a new casino venture, my usual day in the last month looks something like this. Wake up and have an amazing shake of fresh raw fruits and vegetables, work in my home office until 2. Have meetings 3 until 6, and then go on our casino ship at 6:30 for dinner. After that, I meet friends and play poker till midnight, unless there is a special charity event that night in town that I want to support.
So what is the Island Breeze Casino all about?
It's the first of many planned full Las Vegas style casinos on the water. We are a public company (stock symbol IBII), and we opened our first here in Palm Beach, Florida. We have a full sportsbook, real craps and roulette, and blackjack and a poker room with an indoor/outdoor lounge deck. It's a lot of fun, and people love it. I'm excited to host major charity events there. We've just started planning things now that we have been open for a month and are working smoothly.
Joe Hachem caused quite a stir recently by saying that you and Jerry Yang jointly destroyed the legacy of the world champion. How did you feel about that?
It's hard to take Joe [Hachem] seriously. He's entitled to his opinion, as far off from the truth as it is. I am proud of the way I have given back and supported the poker community and know firsthand that Jerry Yang has done the same. Not everyone has to follow the same path. I sleep really well at night after leaving the world a better place than I found it, and hope he can someday as well. I don't need to say anything bad about Joe, let him and some others keep going on with their "important" opinions.
Since your win, the WSOP have made a number of changes to their tournament rules involving table-talk as well as other issues. How do you feel about this 'policing' of poker?
There is certainly a need for clearer rules, always has been. I still, however, think the table talk rule when heads up needs to be changed. I understand the potential for collusion, and I have certainly crossed that line, but never in a criminal way – that's where that's what the concern should be. If we are allowed to talk, then it's obvious if we cross a line. However, the fact that chip dumping and true team collusion (which has been happening and continues to happen) isn't a concern as much as it should have been all these years makes me really frustrated. That's what's criminal.
There is a view that all the 'characters' are leaving poker. Do you agree?
I find that the level of play in poker nowadays is so much more advanced, so at the same time yes, it's so much less fun and interesting to watch. You never know, a great character or two may come back in a big way someday to bring more excitement to the game. I used to love to watch poker, now it's really hard to find an interesting moment. I still love playing the game, though, at any level. It's actually much more fun at lower stakes – no pressure and more social, the way it was when I was younger – for me anyway.
It's been said that you have a 'Marmite' effect on people. What is something about you that you don't think the public generally know?
Did winning $12 million change the way you perceived money?
Not really, I never cared about money the way many do. It's not wrong, it's just not my way of seeing things. I value people and relationships and experiences, not money or amounts of it or collecting it. I do enjoy helping other people make it, but that's more about being productive and making people happy than putting value on it further than its use. The only reason I am concerned about amounts is in how much I can make now so I know how much I can donate later.
Have you achieved what you'd hoped to? What's on the horizon for you at the moment?
So far, yes. I wanted to represent artists and I was fortunate enough to have been able to. I then wished I could win the WSOP main event, and first time out lucky enough I did. After that, I dedicated my life to philanthropy, and met some of most inspiring and awesome people now in my life forever. I have helped more people and causes than I thought I ever could. Next, I want to make the company I am a part of as successful as possible so I can make an even bigger positive impact on the world. A lot needs to be changed, and it will take a lot of money to enforce change that will ensure there is even a world for the next generations to enjoy. When I retire I might take the time to be a little more self-involved and just see how many poker tournaments I can win in one year. That idea hasn't appealed to me as of yet.
Bravely, we ventured into the basement of Bluff Towers to rootle through some of our dustiest archives, only to find some explosive excerpts from Jamie Gold's first ever interview with Bluff Europe in 2006. The years may have passed, but what's changed? Jamie has his say.
So they'd throw away their hands and I'd turn over 2-3 or whatever. Then they'd flip out, because there was A-Q-T on the board and they'd had A-K. I was getting people to lay down sets and flushes. It was like a Jedi mind trick. Anything I wanted people to do – they did it.
They'd immediately go all in.
Jamie (2014): Wow – I don't doubt I said all that, but let's first put it in fair context. Back then, it was 12 to 15 hours a day for almost 10 days straight. The media attention and friends and family time had me sleeping, if lucky, a few good hours a night. Then the final table was going for 17 to 20 hours. Sleep deprivation combined with many celebration cocktails after the win is my only reasoning for the exaggeration and brash telling of what happened. I am not proud of every moment, but I am proud of the overall event. It sounds more collusive here than it ever was.
Excerpt 2: Bluff: During Day 4, you told us that you didn't want to win, because you didn't want the fame, and that you considered dumping. What changed?
Jamie (2006): One of my business partners mentioned it to me first. He said, "Wouldn't you rather come in second and not be hounded by the media as an instant celebrity?" I thought, at the time, that he might be right. I realized later that night it would be unethical for me to do that. In fact, I really regret saying it, because I really did want to win this thing. I said, "Screw it; whatever comes along with winning this, I can take it." I suddenly realized I had fans and supporters – people who I'd never met cheering me on – and that's what was important for me.
Jamie (2014): As my first Main event, and having been an agent and seeing people's lives changed so drastically when fame comes along, I can see how I was having second thoughts there. I'm glad it was only a fleeting moment.
Excerpt 3: Bluff: So what are you going to do with $12,000,000?
Jamie (2006): It will help my father a lot. He has a terminal illness (Lou Gehrig's disease) and anything that can help his quality of life is everything to me. What I plan to do is to take care of everyone now. Some of my friends are unhappy with what they are doing in life, so I've asked them to quit their jobs, and they're going to travel with me and live a great life with me. I need them here, because they are the people who I can always trust, and they will always keep me in check. It makes me happy having them around. There's no chance that I could have won this thing without my friends and family.
Jamie (2014): That is what happened. I continue to help others even now – it's in my nature.


Aurora, 80045 720-848-0000 www.uch.edu The University of Colorado facility is part of the 20- year, $4.3 billion redevelopment of the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, located in Aurora. The hospital is touted as a "Hospital of the Future" by USA Today for its state-of-the-art approach to care and commitment to the highest levels of patient satisfaction. Upon completion of future phases, the Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion will have 99 beds, including 72 medical/surgical beds, five labor/delivery/recovery rooms, 10 postpartum beds and four suites that offer additional amenities.
The "new tower" at UCH opened on May 6, 2013 has added 734,000 square feet that more than doubled the size of its emergency department, and added 144 beds (with room for 132 more at a later time). The new structure features a rooftop helipad for transporting emergency patients who will travel in dedicated trauma elevators to treatment areas that hold a next-generation CT scanner, high fidelity ultrasound, and X-ray imaging rooms so patients do not need to leave the department. The twelve-story building has both a neurology and a cardiac ICU, two 36-bed acute care floors, and a 24- bed critical care floor. Housed on the first floor is the conference center with a large, up-to-date auditorium.


-No Visible screws, all fasteners are hidden.
-Chrome gives strength and protects against corrosion.
The minimum price for an 10.88 $ product was equivalent to 2019-04-17 in the country: Russia.
The maximum price of an 10.88 $ product was equivalent to 2019-04-17 in the country: Russia.
The coating on the reverse side of the door protects from scratches. Is attached to the upper edge of the door to the rational use of space. You can hang bathrobes or bags.